Fall 2008
Three new churches join FEC
Delegates welcome congregations in Monticello, Illinois;
Nampa, Idaho; and Washington, Illinois, during Convention.
By Kristi Reimer, FEConnections editor
D
uring Convention in August, three
new churches joined the Fellowship
of Evangelical Churches. Two of them are
“new” only to FEC—they each have a history of more than 100 years. The other is less
than 10 years old. What these bodies share,
other than their new membership in our
fellowship, is a commitment to the Word
of God and reaching the community for
Christ. Here’s a little more about them.
Crossroads Church of Monticello
Monticello, Illinois
A mile east of Monticello Middle School in the
town of Monticello, Illinois (between Champaign and Decatur), is Crossroads Church.
At least, that’s where you’ll find the building with the Crossroads sign out front. The
church is really the people of Crossroads, who
came together in 1999 with a simple prayer.
At that time, a group of families attending church in nearby Mahomet began praying about starting a church in Monticello
to which they could invite their friends and
neighbors. After five years of planning and
prayer, Crossroads held its first service in
2004 on Easter Sunday at the Best Western
Hotel with over 100 in attendance. They
quickly outgrew the hotel space and moved
to the middle school. But that was a temporary solution, too, so they began looking for
a permanent home.
After purchasing land, Crossroads began
construction on a new facility in April of
2007. Less than six months later, the church
opened the doors of its new building. The
congregation has since grown to over 130
families, with an average Sunday attendance
between 300 and 350. The church has also
expanded to two services.
Inside
______________
New FEC churches
2 Lakeview Bible Church
3 Calvary Mennonite
Church
Convention & Quizzing
4 Scenes and faces from
Convention 2008
5 Convention 2009: A
special announcement
FECHappenings
6 Christian Service
Foundation president
named
7 Ministry assessment
opportunity; Short
term mission trips;
Missionary updates
President’s Corner
8 In God We Trust
Construction underway on the Lakeview Bible Church building in a growing area of Nampa, Idaho.
Lakeview is one of three recent additions to the FEC family.
Connecting and equipping the Fellowship of Evangelical Churches
New churches
(continued from page 1)
“Our primary goal is to reach people who don’t
have a church home,” says Crossroads pastor Mike
Heiniger, who grew
up at Grace Church
in Morton, Illinois.
“The highest compliCrossroads is
ment someone can
give us is to say, ‘This
known in the
seems very real and
very relevant.’ And we
community as a
do hear it. Lives are
being changed.”
place where people
While the services are identical
can find acceptance in content, Sunday
mornings are never
in Christ regardless predictable. “Our
theme is, ‘Today’s
going to be a little bit
of past mistakes.
different,’” Mike says.
Whether that means
Mike Heiniger
a bluegrass worship
Pastor, Crossroads Church
session, a video clip
of Monticello
from The Incredibles,
or a day when everyone is asked to wear
orange to church, there’s something memorable in
each service. The message may examine a topic like
“how to pray” or “developing patience,” or it may
be part of a series through a book of the Bible.
Kids can attend a variety of age-related options during the second service, and the church has
both middle school and high school youth groups.
Similarly, adults can choose from multiple opportunities during the week for small groups and Bible studies. Mike says Crossroads is known in the community
as a place where people can find acceptance in Christ
regardless of past mistakes. “We are open and real,
and people sense we allow God to work,” he says.
The church is looking forward to three things now
that they’ve joined FEC, according to Mike. They are:
(1) participating in youth quizzing and activities
at Miracle Camp,
(2) church planting, both in sharing what they’ve
learned as a church plant and in examining where
they might plant churches in the surrounding communities, and
(3) expanding their missions involvement by taking part in FEC’s international opportunities.
Incidentally, Mike’s wife Cindy is the niece of longtime FEC leaders Earl Cecil and Don Roth. The church’s
associate pastor is Aaron Meeks, who’s married to Leah.
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Lakeview Bible Church
Nampa, Idaho
Lakeview Bible Church, formerly known as Nampa
Mennonite Church, has a spiritual heritage that
goes back more than 100 years. When Mennonite
settlers came to the Treasure Valley of southern
Idaho and founded the church, they emphasized
strong Biblical teaching, missions, regular summer
Bible schools, and outreach to outlying communities. These activities dominated the church’s life
throughout its history.
As the congregation grew and matured, it attracted a number of people who did not come from
a Mennonite background. These participants came
as the result of friendship evangelism, Bible study
classes, and a willingness to learn and involve themselves in the life of the church.
Eventually, some church members began to
question the tie with the Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference, with which they were affiliated,
based on apparent changes in theology, especially
regarding homosexuality. So several years ago the
church chose to leave the conference and change its
name to Lakeview Bible Church.
Despite its difficulties with this conference,
church leaders decided they needed to be held accountable to a larger group—one they could fully
align themselves with in purpose, beliefs, and statement of faith—and began to discuss joining FEC.
In July of this year, the church called Mike Rice,
associate pastor at Lawton EMC at the time, to become lead pastor. And in August the church joined
FEC at Convention. “We’re excited to be partnering
with FEC,” Mike says.
Before this last summer, the church had been
meeting in a school
for over 10 years,
but they moved to a
storefront in downWe’re excited to
town Nampa when
the school building
be partnering
was sold. “It’s been a
good transition,” Mike
with FEC.
says. “The temporary
location has been a
Mike Rice
blessing. We’ve seen
Pastor,
40 to 50 visitors in
Lakeview Bible Church
the last four months,
and we’re in the high
80s for attendance in
worship services lately.
God has been good.”
If all goes according to plan, Lakeview will be in a
new building next spring. With a generous donation
and the work of a local developer who’s a Christian,
the church received four acres on a corner property in
a new subdivision. The church purchased an additional acre for a soccer field to be used in youth outreach.
“We’re on the Nampa outskirts, where there’s potential for a lot of growth,” Mike says. “God has richly
blessed our church and clearly moved with everything
that’s happened.”
The church is ready to plug in to Vision 2020,
FEC’s long-term church-planting and outreach strategy, and is working to identify its Jerusalem, Judea,
and Samaria. Mike says, “We’re busy getting organized
for the future, setting goals and initiatives for the next
few months,” Mike says. “We’re planning outreaches
into the community, and our focus is going to be the
neighborhoods of Midland and Greenhurst.
“We would love to see more FEC churches out in
the Northwest—maybe even a church camp,” he continues. “We’re praying through how we can best meet
the needs of the community and reach the lost. And I
hope that FEC will pray with us.”
Calvary Mennonite Church
Washington, Illinois
The first meeting of believers who would eventually
form Calvary Mennonite Church took place in May
of 1866 under some shade trees. The meetings continued, and over the next few years the church grew to
the point where a pastor was called from within the
congregation and a building was constructed. Since
then, the church has had its ups and downs, but it
has generally tried to be faithful to the Word of God
in its teachings and ministries.
Average attendance at Calvary is currently around
120, and Sunday school draws about 80. In recent
years the church has emphasized youth ministry, with
mission trips an important focus. Calvary has a strong
Women In Mission program, with women of the church
meeting regularly to help with aid and relief work
through larger Mennonite organizations. These efforts
might include quilting, knotting comforters, rolling
bandages, making photo albums, sewing, and baking
pies, with proceeds going to support various Mennonite
projects, mission workers, and local mission agencies.
Over the years Calvary has sent missionaries to
Africa, China, and college campuses. Currently, a
young family from the church is serving in Senegal,
and a young man is working with inner city youth in
Canada. The church puts on an annual pancake and
sausage breakfast at the Mennonite Relief Sale, serving
about 4,000 people and raising money for relief
efforts. Calvary has also been involved in urban
ministries in Peoria.
Like Lakeview Bible, Calvary Mennonite was part
of a larger Mennonite conference that began to part
ways with the church’s doctrinal values. Church leaders spoke with conference leaders but weren’t satisfied by the answers they got. So they started looking
elsewhere for denominational affiliation.
Milo Nussbaum, pastor of Grace Church in nearby
Morton for many years, had served as Calvary’s
interim pastor for about a year. “Naturally we started
looking at FEC,” says Del Dester, a Calvary trustee and
council co-chair. “Their confession of faith and core
beliefs are similar to ours. It was an easy decision.”
This fall Calvary called Ken Sistrunk of Pine Hills
Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to be its pastor. Ken’s
first Sunday with the church was Nov. 1. “We’ve been
waiting a long time for that,” Del says. “We’re happy
to be part of a group that holds strongly to the Word,
and we’re looking forward to getting involved. We
were very warmly welcomed after the delegate vote
at Convention. That was encouraging.”
He admits that
the church has had its
struggles throughout
the process of leaving
We’re happy to be
the Mennonite conference and joining FEC,
part of a group that
but now the church
is looking forward
holds strongly to
and ready to make a
fresh start.
the Word, and we’re
Del’s wife Lois
says that she’ll be
looking forward to
focusing on how the
Women In Missions
getting involved.
program can integrate
into FEC. “It’s going
to take some prayer
Del Dester
and time as we learn
Trustee, Calvary
how we can fit into
Mennonite Church
the women’s programs
within FEC,” she says.
“Other churches have
women’s Bible studies, and we do too, but we’re very
active in our missions involvement, physically as well
as prayerfully. We hope to tie that into FEC somehow.
We have a lot of energy to bring forth.”
And so do all of these churches, in many areas.
They have gifts to offer even as they take part in the
blessings and encouragements God has granted to FEC.
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Quizzing &
Above: Pine Hills
junior high champion
quiz team.
Above: Salem Church senior high champion quiz team.
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Above and left: Pastors and Wives Dinner
with speaker Matt Williams.
Convention
Mark your calendars!
Convention 2009 will be
held July 30 to August 1
at Brookside Church in
Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Above and right: Friday night worship led
by Pine Hills included keynote speaker
Matt Williams of Biola University
Above: Delegate Session with (from left):
Mariano Ramirez, Harry Hyde,
Dionicio Valdez, Earl Cecil
Below and right: Ladies Luncheon.
Pictured below (from left): Lynnette Hyde,
Angie Morton, Jane Diggle, Cheryl Cecil,
Anna Mortenson, Allison Roseboom,
and Mary Shadowen
Above: Men’s Breakfast with Brent Preston.
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Christian Service Foundation
names new president
FEC
Al Rupp serves FEC in dual role as CSF President and FEC Stewardship Director
A
lan L. Rupp has joined the
FEC Resource Center in a
new career as President of the
Christian Service Foundation
and Director of Stewardship
for FEC. Al joined our team on
October 1, 2008.
Al graduated from Taylor
University in 1968 and Purdue
University in 1971, attaining
bachelor’s and master’s degrees
Al Rupp
in mathematics education. Al
spent 31 years in the education field, ending his teaching career as the head of the
computer science department at Northrop High School
in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 1999, he became a CERTIFIED
FINANCIAL PLANNER™ through the College of Financial
Planning, and for nine years he served as Taylor University’s Director of Planned Giving. He became the Executive Director of the William Taylor Foundation two years
before joining FEC and the Christian Service Foundation.
Al is a member of
Brookside Church and
has served on the board
FEC’s Christian
of directors for the CSF,
holding the office of
Service Foundation treasurer. He currently
serves on the FEC’s General Board as Treasurer.
is a win-win
The Christian
Service
Foundation, an
for depositors.
affiliate corporation
of the Fellowship of
Evangelical Churches,
was formed in 1949 for the purpose of providing financing for building projects within FEC. With initial
deposits of just $6,000, the foundation has grown to
over $20 million. During this period most FEC churches and affiliate corporations have borrowed from CSF
or have a current loan with the foundation.
The key to this growth has been twofold. First,
the churches of FEC have been good stewards of the
funds loaned to them. Most of the time loans are
repaid in advance of the amortization period, and we
have never had a church default on a loan. The second
key is the many depositors who loan money to CSF.
These deposits are the source of the funds loaned to
our churches. It’s a win-win for depositors. While their
money is on deposit with the foundation, they are
paid a reasonable rate of interest and their money is
helping FEC churches at the same time.
Overseeing the work of CSF is a 12-member board
of directors. Ron Habegger has served as a part-time
president since 1982, and Sara Smead is our bookkeeper. While this arrangement has served us well in the
past, increased regulations from the states in which we
operate and managing $20 million in assets (including
$16 million in loans to churches) requires more than
a part-time effort. Therefore, the foundation’s board
of directors and the General Board have combined to
establish the position of CSF President and Director of
Stewardship for FEC. In this position Al will be responsible for the operations of CSF and help promote the
foundation’s work. Also, Al is available to work with
churches and sister affiliates to encourage good stewardship practices.
Please give a warm welcome to Al and Jo Rupp
as they begin this new responsibility.
FEConnections is now available for download at www.fecministries.org. If you desire to continue receiving the newsletter, ill out the form below. Those selecting a hard copy will be able to obtain one from their local
church. We ENCOURAGE you to sign up for the e-mail option to help lower budgetary expenses.
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For your convenience, complete this form online at www.fecministries.org.
Or return this completed form to: FEC Resource Center, 1420 Kerrway Ct., Fort Wayne, IN 46805
Happenings
Missionary updates
Jerry and Sandy Lugbill, Albania
Kent and Angie Morton, along with Grace, Emily, and
Ethan, recently completed five weeks of training in
Colorado at Mission Training International Conference Center. They have reached 88 percent of their
support. Please continue to pray for them as they
desire to be on the field in the beginning of 2009.
We express our sympathy to Jerry and Sandy as they
mourn the death of Jerry’s mother, who went home
to be with the Lord September 11, 2008. Please remember the family in your prayers as they adjust to
life without wife, mother, grandmother, and friend.
Jerry and Sandy returned to Albania October 3 to
continue serving with Albania Bible Institute. We
praise God for the seven new students at ABI, which
now gives them a total of 10.
Home church: Brookside Church,
Fort Wayne, Ind.
E-mail: kentmorton@hotmail.com
Home church: Archbold Evangelical Church,
Archbold, Ohio
E-mail: jerrylugbill@yahoo.com
Kent and Angie Morton, Albania
MinistryStyles assessment tool for FEC churches
M
inistryStyles is a personality assessment tool
designed specifically for churches. In addition
to the standard information provided by instruments
such as DISC, Myers Briggs, and others, MinistryStyles provides insights on how individuals study,
learn, and teach.
When used in team-building exercises, MinistryStyles helps people understand the roles they and others play in the larger group. This tool can help reduce
not only conflict but also burnout. When people as-
sume responsibilities they would rather not be doing,
and continue to serve in that capacity for a period of
time, they are far more likely to suffer from burnout.
This program normally sells for $389 for an annual contract to assess anyone in a congregation.
However, through a special arrangement, it’s available
to FEC churches for $250 per congregation. We recommend performing an assessment of the church staff
first, then the leadership, and then branching out to
the rest of the church.
To take advantage of this opportunity or for more information, call 260-615-9839, e-mail info@ministrytba.com,
or go online at www.ministrytba.com. You can also contact Ron Habegger or Earl Cecil at 260-423-3649 to learn
more about the applications of MinistryStyles.
Short-term missions
Thinking about a short-term mission
trip next year? Check out these options.
Oakes work team, June 8-22, 2009
Join a team of youth through adults for focused
maintenance on The Oakes Camp’s facilities in
Sheffield, England. Cost: $1900
For additional info on short-term missions
opportunities, contact Hal Lehman at
260-423-3649 or H.Lehman@fecministries.org.
Summer Impact 2009 (young adults)
•฀฀Join฀The฀Oakes฀Camp฀summer฀program฀staff฀for฀
several weeks or the whole summer.
•฀฀Become฀a฀Summer฀in฀the฀USA฀intern.฀Join฀churches฀
hosting Basque students from Spain during July 2009.
•฀฀Study฀abroad฀in฀Lebanon.฀
Study in English, earn
college credit, and be salt
and light in the Middle East
for a semester or a whole
year. To participate in the
fall ’09 semester, please initiate contact by April 2009.
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